The Thief of Always illustrates the old adage to “be careful what you wish for.” Harvey would do anything to find fun in the depths of a dreary February day, but his wish becomes a nightmare after a month in Holiday House costs him thirty-one years of his life.

Harvey’s wish illuminates two things. First, Harvey doesn’t realize what he has until it’s gone. He has a loving family, a nice house, and access to education. Harvey takes his life for granted, however, and doesn’t realize his mistake until he loses thirty-one years of time with his family. Though he hasn’t aged, his parents have, and this realization forces Harvey to fight back for his lost years and restore the normalcy of his world. 

Harvey’s wish also reveals that he doesn’t understand that every action has a consequence. For a time, he lives in Holiday House without questioning how or why life is happening around him, ignoring the fact that every cause has some kind of effect, whether good or bad. Everything the kids wish for comes with a price—and in the long run, that price is their souls. It’s not until Harvey escapes with Wendell and the wooden figures turn to ash that he acknowledges that the House, and everything in it, is just an illusion. Though this illusion cost Harvey his childhood, he refused to question it while he was enjoying the magical gifts the House offered him.

Harvey and his friends’ experiences ultimately teach them about gratitude, leaving them with the wisdom to respect their parents and their real lives. Harvey must learn the hard way that actions, including wishes, have consequences and that sometimes it’s better to simply be grateful for what one has instead of focusing on what one could have.

From the moment the reader meets Harvey in his bedroom, it’s clear he craves more from his existence, not wanting to waste a day inside or clean his room. When Rictus offers Harvey the opportunity of a lifetime on the condition that he stop asking questions, Harvey agrees and stifles his natural inclination to question what he sees and feels. Rictus’s goal is to quell Harvey’s curious spirit and, in doing so, maintain the secret of Holiday House. By preventing the children from openly questioning anything, Rictus’s rule encourages the children to ignore their intuitions about the House. If they question their situation, they must forego the fulfillment of their wishes.

The idea that one should simply not question is reinforced by Mrs. Griffin and even Wendell, who initially seems indifferent to the mysteries of the property. As Harvey first settles in with Wendell and Lulu, it appears that he condones this pact of silence. But in the end, Harvey’s intuition is too strong to be ignored. Unlike Wendell, Harvey continues to question his surroundings, and in doing so, he ultimately learns the secrets of the House and saves countless souls.

Though Harvey’s curiosity saves the day in the end, he doesn’t always question things when he should. Rictus appears in his bedroom through some form of magic, but Harvey never questions his appearance. He doesn’t call for his parents, and he keeps this interaction a secret. In this way, Harvey’s story demonstrates the importance of asking why and seeking more information before making decisions, especially when it comes to interacting with strangers. He follows a complete stranger into an unknown home and, despite his feelings of unease, decides to stay. Through Harvey’s journey, readers can see the importance of questioning one’s situation...